Sheet-delivering mechanism.



W. J. MAIN. SHEET DELIVERING MEGHANI'SM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1909.

1,050,842. Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

7 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES.

wax;

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES.

W. J. MAIN.

SHEET DELIVERING MEOHAISIISlS/I.v

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 20, 1909 0 84 Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

W, J. MAIN. SHEET DELIVERING MECHANISM.

APPLIGATION TILED MAR. 20, 1909.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

7 $HEETS-SHEET 3.

nvvawron.

WITNESSES.

W. J. MAIN.

SHEET DELIVERING MECHANISM.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 20, 1909.

1,050,842, Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

7 SHEET S-SHEET 4.

WITNESS s.

W. J. MAIN;

SHEET DELIVERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1909.

Patented (12411.21, 1913.

7 SHEETSSHEET 5 n W. J. MAIN. SHEET DELIVERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1909.

Patented. M1121, 1913.

7 SHEETS-SHBET 6.

W. J. MAIN.

SHEET DELIVERING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20, 1909.

1,050,842. Patented Jan.21,1913.

"I SHEETS-SHEET 7.

\ w E f" /I/ WITNESSE". I/NVENTOR.

- "ED srnrns.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM JULIAIN, OFDVES'L'I'ORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR, B-Y MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO B. HOE AND 00., OF NEW YORK, N. 'Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SHEET-DELIVERING mncnnmsn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. MAIN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at ll 'estport, county of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in- Sheet-Delivering Mechanisms, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same. I

Thisjnvention relates to improvements in mechanism for forwarding sheets of paper to enable a subsequent operation or opera tions, such, for instance, 'as cutting, folding, etc, to baefi'ected,

()ne of-the objects of the invention is to produce' a' sheet forwarding mechanism ineluding a carrier provided with sheet taking and retaining devices, the construction be- .ing suchthat the sheet, after being taken 4 said devices, may be divided transversely-to its path of travel and delivered in separate parts.

.A further object of the invention is to produce a mechanism for forwarding sheets, said mechanisnbeing provided with sheet taking and retaining devices and including improved actuating means for said devices, whereby their operation may be efiected with a minimum amount of noise and shock .to the-operating parts.

. A further object of the invention is to produce a mechanism for forwarding sheets, said mechanism employing a rotarycar- ;rier and sheet taking and retaining devices and including ,means for controlling the time of operation of the sheet taking and retaining devices, thereby enabling the sheet to be accurately positioned on the carrier.

A further object of the invention is to produce mechanism for-forwarding sheets, mechanism including a rotary carrier and sheet taking and retaining devices, and

also, including improved means for effecting the re 'stration of the sheets prior to the time t ey are taken by the sheet taking devices. e

With these and other objects not specifically referred to in view, the invention con sists in certain constructions and in certain parts, improvements and combinations as will. be hereinafter fully described and then specifically pointed out,

In the accompanying vdrawingsfFlg'ure l d is a side elevation of sheet f rwarding terior construction :of the carrier.

mechanism embodying the invention. -Fig. ,2 1s a' p1an view, Fig. 3 is .a .side elevat1on, similarto Fig. ,1, but with the parts on a smaller scale, with certain parts. of the sheet carrier cut away. toshow. the in- Fig. 4 1s a sect1on onthe broken line traofliig. 3. Fig. -5 1s,. a detail. face. view illustrating more particularly the; actuating. mechanism for the sheet taking and .retaining devices. F 1g. 6 isa view similarto Figzfi but showmg the parts in adiflerent position. Fig. 7 1s a s1de elevation of the construction shown in-Fig. 5. Figs. 18,. ,9, 10, .11.-and-l2. are. detail views illustrating the construction 7 of the mechanism shown inFig- 5.. Fig. 1 3 is a detail view illustrating the construc. tion of certain devices which may he employed 1n-..c0nnection with the operation.of.--. thesheet taking and retaining devices. .Fig. 7 Plus a detail view of one of the operating pins which may be employed. Fig. 15 is a sectional view illustrating the. construction of the sheet taking and retaining grippers. which maybe employed.. Figs. 16,17, 18 80 and 19 are diagrams illustrating the operation of the mechanism..-

. The machine which has been selectedto illustrate the invention .is a rotary folding-- machine designed more particularlyffor the 8 folding of sheets. When .the invention. is embodied in a sheet folding machine, sheets may be presented to the mechanism which is thereafter to operate .upon them. in anyw. suitable manner. In the construction shown, the sheets are supported ...upon.a. feedboard 1 provided with suitablesheet. supporting fingers 2, as is usualin such. constructions.

Machines embodying the invention will include a carrier which may be of any suitable construction, but in the best constructions will consist of a cylinder, as 3. As shown, this cylinder-is mounted, upon .,a shaft 4 supported, as usual, in journalboxes 5 mounted in the frame ofithe machine. 1 Machines embodying the-invention will include devices mounted upon the carrier for taking the sheets from the sheet present-' ing means and retaining them on said car rier. While theconstruction of these de- 1 vices maybe varied, in the machine shown, they comprise a set of grip-fingers only one, 6, of ,these. fingers being shown, as they are of the usual type.

The means for supporting and operating 1.110

the sheet taking and retaining devices may be varied, but when, as in the construct-ion shown, these devices consist of grippers, they will, the best constructions embodying the invention, be mounted upon a shaft, this supporting shaft, in' the machine illustrated, being marked 7 and being shown as backed up by the usual spring rod construction, indicated at This shaft 7, in the particular" construction illustrated, is mounted at one end in a bracket 8 secured to one of the cylinder heads, the other end of the shaft being mounted in any suitable manner, as, for instance, in the opposite cylinder head.

When the operating means for the sheet takingand retaining devices include a shaft, it may be operated in various ways. In the particular construction illustrated, two actuators are employed, one for moving the shaft to cause the taking and retaining devices to take the sheet and one for moving the shaft in the opposite direction to cause these devices to release the sheet. As illustrated, these actuators, (see Fig. 5) comprise grooved blocks 9, 10, the block 9 being shown as fast to the shaft 7. The block 10, in the machine illustrated, is mounted on'a stud 11 supported in an extension 12 o'f'th' bracket 8, secured, as has been stated, to the head of the cylinder in any suitable inanner, as by bolts 18.

When, as in the machine illustrated, two actuators are employed, the connections by which they are made effective may be widely varied. As has been pointed out, in the machineshown the actuator 9 is secured diis moved therefore, the other block is correspondingly moved by means of the gearing. Stops, as studs 9, may be employed, to limit the movement of the blocks, and, ifdesired,

the block 9 may be provided with a stop block having curved recesses on each side to engage with these stops.

The operating devices for the actuators may be varied'in construction, but, in the best construct-ions embodying the invention when grooved blocks such as have been referred to are employed, these cooperating actuating means will usually include pins, one of which is suitably located so as to operate one of the actuator blocks for the purpose of causing the sheettaking and retaining devices to take a sheet and the other of which operates the other actuator block to cause the sheet taking and retaining devices to release the sheet. In the particular ma chine illustrated, two such pins are emp loycd, one of these pins, marked 16, (see 1g. 5) cooperating with the block 9 to rock the shaft 7 and. close t e gr ppers 6, and the Loa ers other of said pins, marked 17, being so located as to cooperate with the block 10, and through the intermediate gearing rock the shaft 7 in the reverse direction to open the grippers. To prevent the pins from being broken, the pin 16 may be provided with a socket 16 and the pin 17 with a socket 17, the inner ends of the pins being shouldered and backed up by springs 16", as shown in Fig. 14, this construction allowing the pins to yield if the blocks are misplaced.

\Vhatever be the construction of the sheet taking devices and their operating means, it will, in the best constructions embodying the invention, be of such a character that the time of operation of the sheet taking and retaining devices may be varied, the purpose of this variation being to enable the sheet to be taken at varying distances from its edge, so that it may be accurately positioned upon the carrier and with respect to the devices which are to subsequently operate upon it. In the best constructions embodying the invention, these devices will be of such a character that the adjustment by which the variation is effected may be accomplished whilethe mechanism is in operation. In the particular machine illustrated (see Figs. 1, 2 and 13) the operating pin 16, is mounted in an elongated hub 18 formed, as illustrated, in one piece with an arm 19 support ed on the cylinder shaft 4. This hub 18 extends through an opening in the frame and is provided, outside thereof, with an arm 20. This arm 20 supports a pivoted perforated boss 21 secured in position, in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by a nut 22. EX- tending through this pivoted boss 21 is a rod 23 which, as shown, has a threaded end (see Fig. 1) which is tapped into a nut 2.4. secured to the frame of the machine. The rod 23 is provided with collars 9.5 which are located on each side of the pivoted boss 21, these collars being fast on the rod. T he rod may be operated in any suitable way, as, for instance, by a hand wheel, not shown. It is apparent that by turning the rod it will be moved longitudinally in one direction or the other and through the connections described,

swing the pin 16 around the shaft 4 as :1

ed. As shown, the pin 17 is supported (see Fig. 1) in a bracket 26, this bracket being provided with slots 27 through which pass bolts 28, the bracket being adjustably so cured to the machine by these means, so that, as its position is varied, the position of the pin 17 is varied accordingly.

The means employed for operating the pins 16, 17 or equivalent devices, which may be used, may be varied and will vary according to the particular construction of devices employed. In the machine shown, the socket 16 which holds the pin 16 is provided with a grooved collar 29 and the socket 17 which holds the pin 17 is provided with a similar collar 30. These collars are engaged respectively by rolls on arms 31, 32 supported on a shaft 33 which is mounted at one end in a bearing 34 on a bracket 35 bolted to the frame. The other end of the shaft 33 is supported in a bear ng 36 formed on a bracket 37 secured to the frame by bolts 38, or in any'other suitable manner. The collar 29 is also engaged by a roll on the end of an arm 39, this arm eX- tending from a hub 40 supported on astud 41 in turn supported in a bearing 42 formed on the bracket 37. The hub 40 has also extending from it an arm 43 provided with a roll which engages a cam groove-44 in a drum 45 supported on a stud 46 mounted on the machine frame. It is apparent that as the arm 43 is rocked by its cam, the pin 16 will, through the connections described, be moved inward and outward in its supporting hub 18 and that the pin 17 will be similarly moved through the described connections between the pins.

In machines embodying the invention in all its features, the sheets will be cut transversely to their path of travel and the parts of thesheets thus formed will be delivered separately. This separate delivery of the is provided with a folding blade 47 mounted on a shaft 48, and it is also provided with a second folding blade 49 mounted on a shaft 50. These shafts 48 and 50 are supported in bearings 51 located in recesses in the cylinder, and one end of each shaft is provided with an operating block 52, these blocks carrying operating rolls 53. Spring rod constructions 54 of the usual type may be provided,'the rods of these constructions being connected to the operating blocks.

When, as in the particular machine illustrated, folding or tucking blades are employed, suitable folding devices which may be varied in construction will be employed in-connection with the blades. In the con- -struotion illustrated, these co'ciperating fold.-

-ing devices comprise pairs of intergeared folding jaws 55, 56, these jaws being mounted on a carrying cylinder 57 mounted on a shaftr58 supported in suitable bearings 1n the frame. For convenience in construction, and to avoid the use of long jaws which are liable to spring, two pairs of jaws (see Fig. 4) may be employed, one of these pairs operating at one end of the folding blade and the other pair of jaws operating at the other end ofthe blade. Similarly, two pairs of jaws 56 may be employed. One jaw of each of the pairs 55, in the construction shown, is provided with an operating roll 58, and one jaw of each of the pairs 56- is provided with a similar roll 59, these rolls coiiperating with cams 60 secured to the frame (see Figs. 3 and 4). Suitable spring rods 61 may also be employed in connection with these jaws, as is common in this class of constructions.

While the cutting mechanism employed may be of any suitable type, in the particular machine illustrated, the carrier 3 is provided with a cutting block 62 located between the folding blades 47, 49. This cutting block coiiperates with a knife 63 mounted on a knife carrier 64, the construction being a usual one.

When the machine embodying the invention employs the folding devices of the type illustrated, the folding bladesma-y be operated in any suitable manner. In the particular machine shown, these blades are operated (see Fig. 4 and dotted lines in Fig. by a cam 65, this cam being arranged to be moved into and out of operative position. While the means for moving this cam may be varied, in the construction shown, it is mounted on a slide rod 66 supported in the" side frames of the machine and carrying at its end a roll 67 which engages the groove 44 in the cam drum 45 before referred to. The end of this rod 66 may be slotted, as indicated in dotted lines 68 in Fig. 4, this slot being engaged by a bolt 69 in a boss 70 projecting'from the frame, this construction serving to prevent the rod from turning as it moves. The jaws 55, 56 may deliver the folded" sheets in any suitable manner. In the construction illustrated, the folded sheets-are taken fro-1n these jaws by grippers 71 on a delivery cylinder 72, the construction being a usual one. If desired, tapes, as 73, will be employed to control the body of the sheets as they are carried around by the grippers.

In order to effect the operations for which the particular machine illustrated is designed, the cam drum 45, when the same is employed, should be driven. In the particular construction illustrated, this drumis provided with a gear 74 meshing with a gear 75 mounted on the shaft 58- of the carrier carrier and its shaft make two revolutions toone revolution of the cam drum. It will be further understood that in the machine illustrated, the carriers 3 and 57 move at the same rate of speed.

The operation of the construction so far described will be well understood from the diagrams, Figs. 16 to 19 inclusive. Referring to these figures, it will be understood that just prior to'the time the parts assume the position illustrated in Fig. 16, the pins 16 and 17 have beenni'oved into position and v the pin 16 operating in the groove of the actuator block 9 has rocked the gripper shaft and has caused the grippers to take-a sheet.

The carriers continue their movement and when the parts reach the position shown in Fig. 17, the cutting mechanism comes into operation and divides the sheet, the gripper operating pins having, however, been withdrawn, so that the grippers are not operated I as the actuator blocks pass the pin 17. As

soon as the cutting devices have operated, the tucking blade i9 is operated and tucks the center of the rear part of the sheet into the pin 16, to close upon a sheet, and they cycle of operations just described is repeated.

Machines embodying the invention will usually employ a set of registering stops by which the edge of the sheet is properly positioned, before being taken by the grippers. These re istering stops, when employed, may be of any suitable construction, but in the best constructions embodying the invention, the construction will be such that all the stops of the set may be adjusted simultaneously. Further, the construction will be such that the adjustment of the set of stops may be efiected while the machine is in motion. In the best constructions, furthermore, the construction will be ,such that each stop of the set may be individually adjusted. In the particular machine shown, these stops,-

only one being shown as the stops are duplicates,-comprise a threaded rod 7 6 provided near its outer end with a stop plate 77. The rod 76 passes through a two part socket 78, 79 a milled nut, as 80, engaging the rod between the two parts of the socket, thereby enabling a longitudinal adjustment of the rod to be effected. As the stops are duplisates, each stop may be ind vidually adjusted in this manner. The means by which the set of stops is adjusted may be aricd, but in the partioular machine shown, thisis effected by adjusting the support on which the stops are mounted. As shown, the two part socket 787 9 is mounted on a bracket 81 clamped to a supporting rock-shaft 82,

the adjustment of the set of stops being eliected by adjusting the position of the shaft. While the means for adjusting the position of the shaft, when this means for supporting the stops is employed, may be varied, in the particular construction shown, one end of the shaft 82 is mounted. in a slide block 83 (see dotted lines in Fig. 1,) this block moving in guides in the frame. The slide block 83 is provided with a threaded hanger 84 engaged by a threaded rod 85 passing through a puppet 86 secured to the frame, the outer end of the rod being provided with a hand-wheel 87. By this construction, it will be observed that the end of the shaft may be given a movement and the stops mounted upon it correspondingly adjusted.

It is obvious that the stops must be raised when the sheet taking devices are to take a sheet. The raising of the stops may be eiiected by any suitable construction, but in the particular machine shown, the shaft 82 is provided with an arm 88 carrying a. roll 89 which is arranged to be struck by a cam 90 secured to the end of the carrier 3, this cam being so positioned that the stops will be raised just as the gripper fingers 6 close down upon the sheet. It is also obvious that the stops should be held in their raised position until such time as the sheet has passed off the feedboard or other sheet presenting device. While this may be effected by various means, in the particular construction illustrated, the shaft 82 (see Figs. 1 and 2) is provided with an arm 91 having on it a contact-piece 92 arran ed to engage with a contact piece 93 carrie on a short shaft 94 mounted in the frame. This shaft 94 is provided with a curved arm 95 having on its end a roll 96, this arm, in the particular machine illustrated, being backed up by a spring-rod construction 97. The roll 96 is arranged to run on the periphcry of a cam 97, this cam being carried on the hub of the gear 7a before referred to. The high part of this cam runs under the roll just after the stops have been raised by the cam 90, and the construction operates to hold the stops in their raised osition until the sheet has been drawn ofi tie feedboard.

Machines embodying the invention in its best form will also include a set of sheet holding fingers, the construction of this set of fingers being, in some respects, similar to that ordinarily employed where a sheet is registered by front stops and taken by gripllt trated, theseshet holding fingers comprise a bent wire 98 .held in asters-r99 secured to a rockvshaft 100' suitably mounted in the frame. ,This rock-shaft is provided with an operating arm 101- carrying a'roll 102 which runs on acam 103 also mounted on the hub at thegear 74. It; is desirable thatmthe fingersremain for a short space of time-in.

theiri sheet, holding position after the stops have been raised. While the mechanism for raising the fingers may be varied, in the particular machine illustrated,:the shaft 100 is provided with an arm "10d 'carr ing a. contact screw 105 cooperating wit acontact. shoulder 106 on; the-arm .88 before referred to. This contact screw 105 is so adjusted that when the registerin stops and the sheet holding fingers are both in operative position, there will be some little space between the endQof the screw and the shoulder 106. When, therefore, the shaft 82 rocks to raise the stops, there is no movement of the fingers during the first part of the movement ofthe shaft, but during the latter part of the movement, the shaft 82 operates through the shoulder and contact screw, to raise the fingers. After the fingers are raised, the cam 103 comes into operation and holds the fingers in their elevated position. It is desirable, in order that as much time as possible be allowed for feeding and registering the sheet, that the registering stops and sheet holding fingers come into operative position as soon as possible after the sheet has left the feedboard. In the particular machine shown, the stops and fingers comev into position before the cam 90 has passed the roll 89 on the second revolution of the cylinder. 7

Where the invention is embodied in a machine like the particular machine illustrated, means will be provided which may vary in construction, for preventing the cam90 from strikin the roll 89 on the arm 88 and thus disturblng the position of the stops during the sheet feeding and registering operation. In the particular machine illustrated, the arm 88 is mounted on a hub 107 in the interior of which is secured a sleeve 108, the hub and sleeve being secured together i in any suitable-manner, as, for instance, by

a set screw 109. This sleeve is provlded with a flange 110 and the cam 65, before referred to as mounted on the sliding rod 66, provided with a projection 111 which engages the sleeve between the flange and the end of the hub. As the rod 66 is moved to vary the position of the cam in the manner heretofore described, it is apparent shaft 82. This shaft is further provided with-a hub 112 to which is secured an arm 113, provided with a pin 114: which passes through an opening in the arm 88, all as clearly shown in Fig.4. Duringthetime the cam 90 is passing theroll 89 on-the sec-' ond revolution of the cylinder, the hub 107 is" thrown over, so-that the roll 89 is out of the path of the cam. When, however, the roll is in thepath of the cam, it will be raised, in the manner described, and the shaft 82 will be rocked through the agency of the pin 11.4.- on the arm 113.

. Ghangetnand variations may be made in the construction by which the lnventlon 18 carried into efiect. The invention is not,

therefore, to be confined to the particular construction .hereinbefore shown and deseri d- What is claimed is -1. The. combination with a rotary carrier having sheet takingand retaining devices, of means for presenting a sheet thereto, and means operable while the carrier is in motion for varying the time of operation of the sheet takingv and retaining devices whereby the sheet is caused to be taken at varying distances from its edge. I

2. The combination with a rotary carrier, of means for presenting a sheet thereto, sheet taking devices, actuating mechanism mounted on the carrier for causing said devices to take andrelease asheet, cdiiperating actuating means, and means operable while the carrier is in motion for varying the time of operation of the sheet taking devices whereby the sheet'is caused to be taken at varying distances from its edge.

3. The combination with a rotary carrier, of means for presenting a sheet thereto, sheet taking devices, actuating mechanism for said devices mounted on the carrier, cooperating actuating means, means operable while the carrier is in motion for varying the. relative position of said actuating mechanism and actuating means whereby said devices are caused to operate earlier or later in the revolution of the carrier, sheet registering devices, and means for varying the position of the sheet registering devices.

4. The combination with a rotary carrier, of sheet retaining grippers, an actuating shaft thereof, a tumbler block for operating the shaft,-'acooperating pin, and means operable while the carrier is in motion for varying the position of thepin whereby the grippers are caused to operate earlier or later in the revolution of the carrier.

5. The combination with a rotary carrier, of means for presenting a sheet thereto, a

set of sheet taking and retaining devices,

6. The combination with a rotary. carrier,

of means for presenting a sheet thereto, a

set of' sheet taking and retaining grippers,

a shaft for operating the grippers to take 5 and release the sheet, an actuator block for moving the shaft in one direction, a second actuator block for-moving the shaft in the opposite direction, connections between the blocks and shaft, means for operating the blocks, and connections between the blocks whereby when one block is moved the other block is correspondingly moved.

7. The combination with a rotary carrier, of means for presenting a sheet thereto, a set of sheet taking and retaining grippers, a shaft on which the grippersare mounted, a

pair of grooved actuator blocks, connections between the blocks and the shaft, connections between the blocks whereby when one block is moved the other is correspondingly moved, a pin for operating one of the blocks to move the shaft in one direction, and a secondpin for operating the other rection.

set my hand, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

- WILtIAM J. MAIN; Witnesses: i F. W. H. CRANE,

Gno. V. WILLIAMSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01 intents,

Washington; D. Q. r

block to move the shaft in the opposite di- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 

